Gemma Ray

The post-Y2K United Kingdom has seen a slew of sultry voiced vixens mining the sounds '60s R&B for fun and profit. As certain members of this elite club spectacularly self-destructed, Gemma Ray distinguished herself with her husky voice, diverse set of influences and the kind of noir cool that's equal parts effortlessness and mysteriousness. The Essex-born singer is also an accomplished guitarist whose albums vacillate between lushly orchestrated walls of sound and particularly stark and spacious aural vistas with ease.